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Substitute Mikel Merino scored a late winner as Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in an unexpectedly drab World Cup round-of-16 clash on Monday. The Arsenal midfielder was introduced in the 85th minute and won the game in the 91st with a tidy finish that was just about deserved. La Roja were ineffective for long stretches, and created little, but Merino proved to be the difference-maker.

Mexico’s historic World Cup run ended in heartbreak at the Azteca, as Julián Quiñones starred and Raúl Jiménez gave El Tri hope before Jude Bellingham powered England to a thrilling 3-2 win.

England produced one of their greatest World Cup performances to beat Mexico 3-2 on Sunday and book a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 tournament. Jude Bellingham scored twice in the first half while Harry Kane kept himself in the Golden Boot race with a penalty as the Three Lions held on for victory despite playing the bulk of the second half with 10 men following a red card for Jarell Quansah.

Brazil's wait to win their sixth World Cup will stretch to 28 years after they were eliminated from the 2026 tournament by Norway on Saturday. Erling Haaland's late double secured a 2-1 win for the Scandinavians, who took advantage of Bruno Guimaraes missing an early penalty to win through to the quarter-finals for the first time.

Kylian Mbappe scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as France progressed to the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a laboured 1-0 win over an aggressive and cynical Paraguay side on Saturday evening. The South Americans, who upset Germany in the previous round, were always expected to make for awkward and uncompromising opponents for the tournament favourites but it was nonetheless surprising just how much Didier Deschamps' stellar forward line struggled to create chances in Philadelphia.

Cristian Romero scored an extra-time winner, Lionel Messi grabbed a goal, but Argentina were given a real scare by Cape Verde in an uncomfortable 3-2 win to advance to the World Cup Round of 16. Argentina surrendered the lead twice, and needed extra time to finally gain daylight from a Cape Verde side that, in truth, deserved so much more.

Gonacalo Ramos scored a stoppage-time winner after a chaotic contest between Portugal and Croatia, with Roberto Martinez's side squeaked out a 2-1 victory to advance to the World Cup Round of 16. Croatia scored first, but Portugal came from behind. Ronaldo scored once from the penalty spot and was replaced by Ramos, who delivered the match's biggest moment.

Spain outclassed Austria in Los Angeles to reach the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup courtesy of a 3-0 win on Thursday. The European champions avoided any sort of scare by dominating proceedings from the outset, securing a comfortable victory through Mikel Oyarzabal's brace and a header from Pedro Porro as they belatedly clicked into gear at the tournament.

Wednesday's Round of 32 provided a test the USMNT never would have wanted, but they did what had to be done to escape the Bay Area and stay in the tournament.

Belgium produced one of the most remarkable comebacks in World Cup history as they came from behind to beat Senegal 3-2 in the last 32 on Wednesday. The Red Devils were awful for 85 minutes and were heading for elimination after going 2-0 down, only for Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans to pull them level before Tielemans converted from the penalty spot in stoppage time of extra-time to book a place in the round of 16.

England came from behind to secure their place in the last 16 of the World Cup as a second-half brace from Harry Kane ensured a 2-1 win over DR Congo on Wednesday. The Three Lions were largely poor for long periods in Atlanta, but Kane's goals, which were both assisted by substitute Anthony Gordon, set up a meeting with co-hosts Mexico on Sunday.

Roberto Alvarado made World Cup history with three assists, while Gilberto Mora shined again as Mexico beat Ecuador to reach the World Cup quarterfinals.

France cruised into the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Sweden on Tuesday, inspired by a Michael Olise masterclass. At his dazzling best in New Jersey, the Bayern Munich sensation was involved in absolutely everything as a Kylian Mbappe brace and Bradley Barcola strike ensured Les Bleus progressed from the round of 32 at a canter.

Quite predictably, Erling Haaland was Norway's hero as his late goal secured a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast to send the Scandinavians through to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, setting up a showdown with Brazil. The Manchester City striker had been peripheral for long stretches but popped up to bobble home the winner with just four minutes left on the clock in Dallas, after Manchester United's Amad Diallo had hauled Les Elephants level.

The Netherlands are out, and in brutal fashion. Ronald Koeman’s side looked minutes away from surviving an underwhelming knockout performance after Cody Gakpo’s 72nd-minute goal, only for Issa Diop to force extra time with a stoppage-time header before Morocco won 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Germany were sensationally dumped out of the 2026 World Cup on Monday evening after losing 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay after a 1-1 draw in Foxborough. Julian Nagelsmann's side had 75 percent possession and three times as many shots as their South American opponents (21-7), while they also thought they'd won a bad-tampered round-of-32 tie when Jonathan Tah headed home Nathaniel Brown's corner in extra-time.

Casemiro and Gabriel Martinelli got the goals as Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in Houston to progress to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The five-time champions appeared to be heading for an embarrassingly early exit after falling behind to a terrific first-half strike from Kaishu Sano, who found the bottom corner of Alisson Becker's net with a low shot after pouncing on a misplaced pass from Danilo.

If this is Lionel Messi’s final World Cup, he seems determined to leave with every attacking record he can. The Argentina icon became the first player in tournament history to score in seven straight games, icing a closer-than-expected 3-1 win over a determined Jordan side. Manager Lionel Scaloni also found more attacking answers, with Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martínez joining in the scoring.

Portugal helped Colombia make history, but not the kind either side wanted. In one of the priciest matches of the group stage at a sweltering Miami Stadium, Los Cafeteros played the first 0-0 World Cup match in their 100-year history - and Portugal deserved plenty of blame after wasting several clear-cut chances against their South American opponent.

Jude Bellingham was the star of the show as England secured top spot in Group L at the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday. The midfielder broke the deadlock shortly after the hour mark before assisting Harry Kane soon after as Thomas Tuchel's side produced an otherwise uninspiring display despite the positive result.

As it turns out, Belgium might just be alright. Talk of a golden generation is long over and, to be fair, their first two World Cup results only furthered the idea that the Red Devils' time has passed. If Friday's group stage finale against New Zealand is any indication, though, Belgium's old guard might just have one last run at all of this.

The defining image of Spain's World Cup win over Uruguay was not a celebration. It was not Spain's trademark tiki-taka or a Lamine Yamal rainbow flick. Instead, it was backup goalkeeper Sergio Rochet replacing Fernando Muslera at halftime after the veteran's costly error helped open the door for Alex Baena to send Spain top of their group.

Ousmane Dembele netted a sublime 32-minute hat-trick to blow Norway away and ensure France secured top spot in World Cup Group I with a 4-1 victory on Friday. The damage was done in the first half as the Ballon d'Or holder ran riot, ably assisted by Kylian Mbappe.

Christian Pulisic returned from injury, and Sebastian Berhalter starred, but a heavily rotated USMNT side conceded in stoppage time as Turkiye ended their perfect World Cup start.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Germany were full of attacking intent but badly lacking in defensive quality in a poor final World Cup group stage fixture, falling to a dogged Ecuador, 2-1. Julian Nagelsmann's side got an early goal from Leroy Sane, but conceded twice, and never had a coherent response. They still top the group, but go into the knockouts on a dreary note.

Mexico witnessed the arrival of a new star in Gilberto Mora and celebrated the career of a legend in Guillermo Ochoa as they secured a 3-0 win over Czechia. For the first time, El Tri finished a World Cup group stage with nine points, and Javier “Vasco” Aguirre now has his team in the best possible shape heading into the knockout rounds.

Vinicius Junior's brace pushed Scotland to the brink of a World Cup exit as Brazil ruthlessly capitalised on their errors in Miami on Wednesday. While the Selecao wrapped up top spot in Group C, the 3-0 defeat means the Scots are unlikely to be one of the best third-placed finishers in their bid to reach the last 32.

England came back down to earth at the World Cup as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Ghana on Tuesday. Unlike against Croatia in their opening game, Thomas Tuchel's side were unable to produce in the final third against the Black Stars, and thus missed the chance to potentially wrap up top spot in Group L with a match to spare.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal answered their critics in style as they ran out 5-0 winners over Uzbekistan to record their first victory of the 2026 World Cup. Ronaldo netted twice to become his country's top goal-scorer in finals history, while a fine free-kick from Nuno Mendes, a second-half own goal from Abdukodir Khusanov and a late strike from substitute Rafael Leao ensured Roberto Martinez's side bounced back from their disappointing opening draw with DR Congo.